Building model



April 211, 1953 H. H. BROSCIOUS BUILDING MODEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 7, 1950 IN V EN TOR egybfimmazzs, M2 65 2.11

A TTORNEYS.

A ril 21, 1953 H. H. BROSCIOUS BUILDING MODEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledSept. 7, 1950 FIG; 5

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ATTORNEYS.

BUILDING MODEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 7, 1950 FJGLQ w w n n n n WZ m fix a m u M i m T n m. J l u u ,m w m I. n 3 u H u llllllll II V r Wn,

INVENTOR: IZ/HB @XQL A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUILDING MODEL HenryH. Broscious sunbury, Pa. Application September 7,1950, SerialN0.'183',616

Claims.

This invention relates to building models and to methods of making same.More particularly the invention relates to a practical building model ofa character suitable for demonstrating in three dimensions the visualappearance of a building design and serving as a complete set of workingdrawings also showing in three dimensions all the structural detailsnecessary to erect the building, in a manner readily understood byskilled builders or laymen. While my invention is directed moreparticularly to construction of houses, garages, cabins, guest houses,and the like, it is effective for use in connection with buildings ofother character. Prospective purchasers of homes and other buildings arefrequently unfamiliar with twodimensional drawings such as conventionalbuilding plans and the like. Such Want of familiarity sometimes leads tomisunderstanding concerning the eventual appearance and structuraldetails of the building planned. It is accordingly one object of theinvention to provide a practical model serving to eliminate suchmisunderstandings and to portray realistically the appearance andstructural details of the building.

Many prospective purchasers of buildings are benefited in selecting abuilding design by ascertaining readily the precise total cost ofmaterials for each design contemplated. In accordance with conventionalprocedures quite some time is required for computation of the materialscosts involved in efiecting even a relatively minor change in design.Another object of the'invention is to provide a plurality of buildingmodels adapted to be combined in a wide variety of ways to representmany different building designs, shapes and sizes. Still another objectis to provide .a plurality of building models, each representative ofadefinite quantity of materials selling at a definite unit price, whichmay be pieced together to form a three dimensional representation of abuilding design. A further object of the invention is to provide amethod for making such building models. Other objects and advantages ofthe invention, including the simplicity and economy attributable to theuse of the same in the design and construction of a building, willappear in further detail hereinafter.

I have discovered that highly effective results are attained bydesigning a building as a combination of a plurality of standardbuilding units. Such units may be assembled in accordance with thewishes of the purchaser and also desirably have standardized dimensionsfor ready interchangeability. For each building unit a definite numberof definite parts is required, and accord-- ingly the cost for suchmaterials is a definite'and fixed quantity. I have found that a verylarge number of different home and building designs may be produced byputting together a very small number of difierent or similar buildingunits. For any such building the total cost of materials iseasilyascerta'ined by merely adding the material' costs for theseparateunits constituting the several portions of the selectedbuilding.

In connection with the foregoing, I find it advantageous -toprovidedrawings showing the structural details of each unit'of thebuilding. Such-drawings are-applicable for the construction of aparticular building unit without regard to the manner in which said unitis combined with others. The drawings, when the units are combined toform the selected building, are complete working drawings showing thebuilding structure in a form suitable for use in erecting the building.

For demonstration of the highly desirable features of my buildingdevelopment program, I have created a building model having novelfeatures as disclosed herein.

In summary, the invention constitutes a building model having a basicblock element shaped to represent a building unit and adapted to bemarked with representations of the structural details of the buildingunit and a separate cover piece having walls adapted to fit snuglyoverthe block element and to' re'presentthe outside of thebuilding unit.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents in perspective one embodi ment of a building model inthe form of a block together with an attached piece of sheet material, apart of which is broken away in order more clearly to disclose importantdetails of the block;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 representing a building model blockof different form;

Fig. 3 represents the building model block of Fig. 1 together with acover piece of sheet ma"- terial; v Fig. 4 represents a cover piece ofslightly difierent form;

Fig. 5 represents a building model including a model block similar tothat of Fig. 2 in combination with a cover piece similar to that of Fig.4, parts being broken away as indicated;

Fig. 6 represents a building model similar to that of Fig. 5, but ofdifferent form;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of four building models of-the characterrepresented in Figs. 5

and 6, illustrating the manner in which they may be placed together forrepresentation of a building;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of four building models slightly rearrangedto represent a building of different form;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of two building models of the characterillustrated in Fig. 5 which are placed together to represent the roofportion of a building; and

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of two building models of the characterillustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 which are placed together to represent themain portion of the building.

In describing the forms of my invention exemplified by the accompanyingdrawings, specific terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, butit is to be expressly understood that the scope of the invention is notthereby limited, each such item being intended to embrace allequivalents which perform the same function for an analogous purpose.

With specific reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shownthe block II], which may be of rigid material such as pulp board, wood,or the like, and may consist of solid or hollow material as desired.Block I preferably consists of a plurality of block units II which areall of equal size and are arranged in abutting relationship in a formrepresentative of a building or portion thereof. The number I2represents a piece of sheet material such as paper or the like. Suchsheet material I2 has marked thereon a drawing representing thestructural details of the elements of the building, such as the studs I3, corner braces I4, and joists I5, for example. It is to be understoodthat the elements I3, I 4, I are not structural elements themselves butare actual representations of structural elements, marked on the pieceof sheet material I2. Desirably the sheet material I2 constitutesoriginally a flat paper sheet, print, or the like bearing drawingsillustrating the structural details of the building. The shape andcharacter of such sheet will be readily apparent.

The piece of sheet material I2 is affixed to the block sections II as bygluing or the like and covers the entire exposed surface of theassembled block units II. Sheet material 12 thus holds the block unitsII together in the form of the buildin unit represented.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the overall size of each demonstrationblock may be modified by cutting the sheet material I 2 along linescorresponding to the planes of division intermediate the selected blocksections II. This frees the composite units designated 24, 24a, whichare runner units intermediate the ends, from the original block and anysuch composite runner unit 24, 24a may be removed from the block asindicated. The dimension of each block unit I I is predetermined withprecision and corresponds to a definite number of structural pieces suchas studs I3 and joists I5 which are represented on sheet material I2.Accordingly by cutting along lines corresponding to the planes ofjuncture of the block units II the structural pieces such as the studsI3 and joists I5 are also bisected. After the runner unit 24 has beenremoved, composite block end units 25, 25a and the remainder of theblock model may be brought together. The bisected members such as studsI3 and joists I5 accordingly fit together to represent one full stud I3or joist I5 and the units otherwise fit together for accuraterepresentation of a building having a reduced size.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it will be apparent that the blockunits Ila may have triangular as well as rectangular faces forrepresentation of the roof or other portion of a building. The blockunits I I, I la may extend longitudinally of or laterally of thebuilding unit. As will become more fully apparent hereinafter, it ishighly desirable in using the building models of the invention to haveat hand at least two models of each building block, one of which hasblock units disposed laterally of the building model and the other ofwhich has block units disposed longitudinally of the building model.

While the drawings or other markings on the sheet material I2 may berepresentative merely of basic structural parts of the building, suchstructure is conveniently and quickly modified by pasting or otherwiseaflixing supplemental strips ISa, I91), I91: to sheet material I2. InFig. 1, supplemental strip I9a represents the structural elements forconstructing a large window, and is pasted on or otherwise afiixed tosheet material I2 thereby obscuring the markings on sheet material I2.Similarly, supplemental strips I9b and IBc represent respectivelyanother window and a door. The structural details of supplemental stripsIlla, I 91), I are all represented on the same scale and all parts aredrawn to the same basic dimension as the drawings appearing on sheetmaterial I2. Accordingly the drawings of sheet material I2, as modifiedby the drawings on the supplemental strips, constitute a complete,accurate set of working drawings in three dimensions and in a formreadily understood by the layman. Since all the parts are drawn to thesame basic dimension they may all be procured with convenience from acommon source and the plans appearing on the model may be used by aninexperienced builder for erecting the building selected,

Having reference particularly to Fig. 3, the building model has a coverpiece I 6 desirably constructed of sheet material such as paper or thelike. Cover piece I6 is preferably formed from a suitably cut papersheet, the shape and character of which will be apparent, and hasmarkings representing the architectural appearance of the outside of thebuilding. Such markings are preferably in the form of drawings and mayrepresent siding, shingles, brick, stone, block, stucco, or the like.The cover piece IB has side walls I1, end walls 20, top 2| and an openbottom and is shaped to fit slidably and closely around the sheetmaterial l2 which is attached to block I0, and to conform to the sizeand shape of the building model. The members I1, 20, 2I are preferablyformed integrally from a blank folded along the edges 22 of top piece2|, the free edges 23 being aflixed together as folding and by gluing.It will be understood that the cover piece I6 is separate from the blockID and from the piece of sheet material I2 aflixed to block I0, and thatthe walls I! and 20 are constructed and arranged to fit slidably overthe sheet material I2 which is applied to the block sections I I, asindicated by the arrows appearing in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that the cover piece I6 has markings in the form ofa plurality of parallel lines I8 disposed at uniformly spaced intervalson the upper surface of top 2I Such lines are placed in locationscorresponding to the positions of structural members such as joists I5and the like, and are also useful in determining the desired lo.-jcations of interior partitions. l,

Cover piece l6 also carries supplemental strips 29a, 29b, 290 whichrepresent the architectural appearance of the windows and doors of thebuilding and correspond in size, shape and loca-- tion to thesupplemental strips l9a, I91), I90. Thus the modification in appearance,resulting from a modification as to structure, will be readily apparent.

Having reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be observed that cover piece16a has triangular end Walls 20a together with sloping top members 2 lawhich are formed integrally with one another. Flaps'32 are formedintegrally with the individ-' ual top members cm. The cover piece 16arepresents the architectural appearance of the roof of a building andcarries markings preferably in the form of drawings representing roofingmaterial such as slate, shingles, or the like. Cover piece 16a islikewise constructed and arranged to fit slidably and closely upon thesheet material l2 of the corresponding block Illa and to be removedtherefrom in order to demonstrate the structural details of the buildingrepresented by the model. Supplemental strips 30 and 31 may be appliedin the manner previously described.

Having reference to Fig. 6, it will be observed that the planes ofdivision between block units I I run longitudinally of the block lil,rather than laterally of block H! as in Fig. 1. It will be appreciatedthat wide varieties of size reductions to produce large numbers ofdifferent building models can be accomplished by the use of blocks ofalternate form, examples of which appear in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. The coverpieces l6, [6a may also be cut along corresponding lines and reassembledfor attainment of a close fit on the block members so reduced in size.

As indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 the building models of the invention arealso adapted to be fitted together in a wide variety of ways in order toportray in three dimensions the appearance and structure of buildings ofdifierent sizes and shapes. Rectangular building models 26 may formsupports for block models 26a each having a triangular cross sectionrepresentative of the roof portion of a building. In Figs. '7 and 8there are represented two of a wide variety of building designs whichmay be portrayed by rearranging the models of this invention andsubstituting certain models for others. In Fig. 7 four building modelunits are placed together to represent the actual appearance of anL-shaped building. By merely shifting the block models 26a andsubstituting one roof model for another the building model of Fig. '7may readily be modified to assume the form represented in Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be observed that structural detailsof the bottom elements of the respective portions of the building arerepresented on the bottoms of the corresponding models. Thus, thebuilding models of the invention show all the structural detailsnecessary for actual construction of the building. The structuralelements represented on the bottoms of the models are all drawn to thesame basic dimension as the structural elements represented on the sidesand tops of the models and are spaced accordingly and in such mannerthat substitution and rearrangement of block units will be easily andrealistically accomplished.

The model units are constructed on multiples of a basic dimension of 16inches and are readily and conveniently interchangeable. Moreover, witheach interchange or modification of design the purchaser is continuouslymade-aware of the effect of the change on the appearance of thebuilding, and on the overall-cost of materials therefor. Moreover, he isat all times provided with a realistic three dimensional set of ele--vations and structural details for the construction for the building.

It will be appreciated that, while the separate cover pieces of theapparatus are defined (in certain of the claims) as having walls whichare constructed and arranged to fit closely over the exposed surface ofthe inner block, the term walls is intended to include the sheet orother elements which contact the side-walls. roof, cornices, and otherelements of the building represented by the model, and is not restrictedto those portions of the separate cover pieces which represent the sidewalls of a building as contrasted to its roof, for example. Such wallsmay be rectangular, angular, curved or of any other shape whichcorresponds to the surface shape of the particular building model overwhich it is to be fitted.

While I have shown and described in detail the apparatus and methodconstituting one form of my invention, it will be appreciated thatmodifications in the sequence of steps of the method, and modificationsas to the form of the apparatus, including substitution of mechanicalequivalents, reversals of parts and the use of certain partsindependently of the use of others, all fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention as denfied in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A model of a building unit comprising a block divided into aplurality of separate adjacent block units, a fixed cover piece of sheetmaterial afiixed to all said block units thereby holding the block unitstogether, said fixed cover piece carrying markings on its exposedsurface representing the structural details of the building unit, and aremovable sheet material cover piece having a shape corresponding to theshape of the fixed cover piece, said removable cover piece beingconstructed to fit slidably over the fixed cover piece and carryingmarkings representing the outside of the building unit.

2. The model defined in claim 1 wherein the block, fixed cover piece andremovable cover piece are all rectangular in shape, the removable coverpiece having a top and four sides and being open at the bottom.

3. The model defined in claim 1 wherein the block, fixed cover piece andremovable cover piece are all triangular in shape, the removable coverpiece having inclined top portions and be ing open at the bottom.

4. The building model defined in claim 1 wherein the block units are allsubstantially identical in size, and wherein the markings on the fixedcover piece are located at the extremities of the block units, whereby apredetermined reduction can be made in the size of the model by cuttingthe sheet material along the markings corresponding to a block unit andremoving the block unit from the model.

5. A building model comprising a block of material having a shapecorresponding to that of a building unit, first sheet material affixedto the surface of said block, said first sheet material covering theblock and being adapted to represent the basic structural details of thebuilding unit, a strip of sheet material which is smaller than saidfirst sheet material, means for atfixing said strip to said first sheetmaterial to represent a modification of the basic structural details ofthe building unit a separate cover piece having walls constructed andarranged to fit slidably over the sheet material affixed to said block,said cover piece representing the outside appearance of the buildingunit, and a second strip of sheet material affixed to said cover piecein a position corresponding to the location of the first strip, saidsecond strip having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shapeof the first strip and being adapted to represent the outside appearanceof the modified structure represented by said first strip HENRY-H.-enoscrous.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number5 1,673,413 1,736,134 2,118,338 2,315,463 2,501,520 10 2,522,149

Number Name Date Marden June 12, 1928 Rutherford Nov. 19, 1929 BolhuisMay 24, 1938 Tingley Mar. 30, 1943 Howard Mar. 21, 1950 Tunstall Sept.12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 21, 1942 GreatBritain Sept. 8, 1942 Great Britain July 6. 1948

